32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party
Minority party
Leader
Joseph Robinson
Charles McNary
Party
Democratic
Republican
Leader since
December 3, 1923
March 4, 1933
Leader's seat
Arkansas
Oregon
Seats before
70
22
Seats after
75
17
Seat change
5
5
Seats up
19
11
Races won
24
6
Third party
Fourth party
Party
Farmer–Labor
Progressive
Seats before
2
1
Seats after
2
1
Seat change
Seats up
1
0
Races won
1
0
Fifth party
Party
Independent
Seats before
0
Seats after
1
Seat change
1
Seats up
0
Races won
1
Results of the elections: Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold Farmer–Labor hold Independent gain No election
Majority Leader before election
Joseph Robinson
Democratic
Elected Majority Leader
Joseph Robinson
Democratic
The 1936 United States Senate elections coincided with the reelection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The 32 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Great Depression continued and voters backed progressive candidates favoring Roosevelt's New Deal in races across the country. The Democrats gained 5 net seats during the election, and in combination with Democratic and Farmer–Labor interim appointments and the defection of George W. Norris from the Republican Party to become independent, the Republicans were reduced to 16 seats. Democrats gained a further two seats due to mid-term vacancies. The Democrats' 77 seats and their 62-seat majority remain their largest in history.
This was the last of four consecutive election cycles where Republicans suffered losses due to the ongoing effects of the Great Depression. This was also the last Senate election cycle until 2012 in which a Democratic candidate who won two terms also made net gains in the Senate on both occasions (although Roosevelt won a third term and fourth term, he lost Senate seats on both occasions). Additionally, this is the last time any party held three-fourths of all Senate seats.
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